Thursday, March 13, 2014

APRES THE DELUGE – Being Random Nature Notes Following Rain

Greedy  Chicky at  front.

There  were  so  many  flying  ants  about  after rain connected  with  Cyclone Dylan  went through that the Curlews  did  not  turn up on  two occasions , like  Chinese rice Christians ,  to   be   fed. Then they  marched  into the  kitchen , right , and  demanded  to  see  the  fly  through  menu.  
 
   dead   koala  was  reported  floating  in  a  creek .  *** A  large  Dragonfly  , regarded  as  a  sign of   the   Dry season in the Top End , was caught  in the laundry  and  freed. ***  Hissing  Curlews drew  attention  to  the  fact  that   five   Cockatoos  were  in  the  yard  eyeing  off  the  netted  lime  tree ;  chased  them  away by  clapping  hands  and  barking... what  will  neighbours   think ? ***  It sounded   like  Christmas when  cicadas chirruped  one  night  after  rain.  ***  Wasps   of   various  colours  busy, some  carrying   fat  grubs  back  to  storage .*** Looking  like  a  miniature  Tolai  Duk - Duk  figure  , a collection  of  leaves  and  sticks , being   slowly   lowered  towards  the   ground   on  an  almost   invisible   thread  ,  attracted  attention.  Now  and  again , a  Caterpillar  feeding  out   the  thread   popped   out   its  head    and  looked  about .*** Hundreds of  pawpaw plants  have  surfaced , 99 percent  probably male , if not , will  flood  the  market .  ***  Straw-necked  Ibis dropped  in  again  to dig  about  for  delights  in  the  soft  mulch , much to annoyance of Curlews. *** Cockatoos  raided   the   netted  mandarin  tree-must run  about  barking at birds  more  frequently . *** Investigating  a  thump outside, found  Lorikeet  had  flown into the  sliding  glass door  which  reflected  the   open  backyard  ; wrapped in a cloth and  put in a   container, it later recovered  and  flew away.*** Clinic says  the  reason why  my  right arm  is  swollen, hot, aching  is probably due to contact with an  Electric Caterpillar.*** While trying  to  read  the  sky for   signs of  possible rain  from  another cyclone,  notice  swarms of  Dragonflies , so annoyingly  predict  next  fall will  be when  Reindeers are  seen  pulling  a  sled  near  the  end  of  the  year.